Court roundup: Contractor sentenced in theft case, homicide suspects plead not guilty and more (2024)

Jonathan Shaheen

Shaheen, a former Tri-Lakes area pastor and music teacher who pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a child, was sentenced to two years in the Department of Corrections on Monday.

Freddy Quintanilla Diaz

Quintanilla Diaz made his first appearance in Colorado’s 4th Judicial District Court on Tuesday after he was arrested for allegedly trying to kill his roommate over a rent dispute of $50, according to previous reporting from The Gazette.

Quintanilla Diaz now faces seven criminal charges for the altercation including first-degree assault, felony menacing and obstruction of a peace officer. Attempted first-degree murder is not among the charges he faces.

He will return to court on Tuesday for a bond hearing ahead of his July 18 preliminary hearing. Quintanilla Diaz is being held at the El Paso County jail on a $50,000 bond.

Linda Guest and Joseray Arizmendi

The two women accused of kidnapping and repeatedly assaulting a couple for speaking with police were charged Tuesday after making their first appearances in court the week prior.

Guest and Arizmendi each face 10 criminal charges including kidnapping, aggravated witness intimidation, first-degree assault, felony menacing.

They will return to court on July 15 for their preliminary hearings. Both remain in custody at the El Paso County jail on $25,000 bonds.

Erica Johnson

The woman accused of numerous theft charges for defrauding people in Colorado Springs through her contracting business accepted a plea deal on Wednesday, according to court records. Johnson pleaded guilty to four counts of felony theft and received a deferred prison sentence of four years.

Johnson had eight open theft cases, all of which involved stealing money from a client through contracting business that she did not complete, or never started at all, that were dismissed through the plea.

Additionally, Johnson owes over $350,000 in restitution, according to court records.

Brian Yi

One of the two brothers arrested for selling fentanyl and weapons out of their Colorado Springs liquor store in 2022 accepted a plea deal on Wednesday, according to court records. Yi pleaded guilty to one count of controlled substance distribution and will return to court on Sept. 4 for his sentencing hearing.

Brian Yi’s brother, Steve Yi, already accepted a plea agreement and was sentenced to 13 years in the Department of Corrections in May, according to previous reporting from The Gazette.

Nelson Boyer

The motorcyclist accused of attempting to kill someone during a road rage incident near Interstate 25 last month made his first appearance in court on Wednesday. Boyer faces five charges for the road rage shooting including attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and illegal discharge of a firearm.

Boyer’s preliminary hearing is slated for July 19, and he remains in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $250,000 bond.

Donnell Chess

Chess pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other charges on Thursday, landing himself a 50-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.

Alejandro Balderas-Avilez

After having his initial first appearance vacated on June 20, Balderas-Avilez failed to appear in court on Thursday for his newly scheduled first appearance, according to court records. Balderas-Avilez was released from custody on June 13, the day of his arrest, after he posted a $1,000 cash bond.

He is accused of killing 84-year-old Dolores Holler in a hit-and-run accident in December. He faces two charges in connection to Holler’s killing: leaving the scene of an accident involving death and careless driving resulting in death.

A show cause hearing is scheduled for July 27 in which Balderas-Avilez will get the chance to explain why he failed to appear to court.

Ruben Segovia Sr. and Ruben Segovia Jr.

The father-son pair accused of shooting a 9-year-old at a Colorado Springs apartment complex in January each pleaded not guilty to all 15 charges they face for the incident. The charges include several counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and illegal discharge of a firearm.

Segovia Sr. and Segovia Jr. are both scheduled to return to court on July 19 for a motion hearing, and Dec. 2 is scheduled to be the pair’s first day of trial. Both remain in custody at the El Paso County jail on a $150,000 bond.